Rules Applicable To The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

Commandant (G-SCT-2)
U.S. Coast Guard 4 May 1996
Washington DC 20593
{Note: These are the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
regulations concerning the Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (GMDSS), scanned from the October 1, 1995 edition of the
Code of Federal Regulations, 47, Part 80 to End. Note that
because this text was scanned, there may be errors in the text.
If you see such errors, please notify us at the email address
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION REGULATIONS
47 CFR 80
Subpart W-Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
SOURCE: 57 FR 9065, Mar. 16, 1992, unless otherwise noted.
This subpart contains the rules applicable to the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Every ship of the United
States subject to part II of title III of the Communications Act or
the Safety Convention must comply with the provisions of this
subpart. The rules in this subpart are to be read in conjunction
with the applicable requirements contained elsewhere in this part;
however, in case of conflict, the provisions of this subpart shall
govern with respect to the GMDSS. For the purposes of this sub-
part, distress and safety communications include distress, urgency,
and safety calls and messages.
NOTE: No provision of this subpart is intended to eliminate, or
in anyway modify, other requirements contained in this part with
respect to part II of title III of the Communications Act.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
80.1065 Applicability.
(a) The regulations contained in 80.1119 apply to public coast
stations and coast earth stations as of February 1,1992.
(b) The regulations contained within this subpart apply to all
passenger ships regardless of size and cargo ships of 300 tons
gross tonnage and upwards as follows:
(1) Ships must comply with 80.1085(a)(4) and 80.1085(a)(6) not
later than August 1, 1993.
(2) Ships constructed on or after February 1, 1992, must comply
with 80.1095 as of that date. All other ships must comply with
80.1095 as of February 1, 1995.
(3) Ships constructed on or after February 1, 1995, must comply
with all requirements of this subpart.
(4) Ships constructed before February 1, 1995, must comply with
all requirements of this subpart as of February 1, 1999.
(5) During the period between February 1, 1992, and February 1,
1999, all ships must comply with:
(i) The requirements of this subpart;
(ii) The requirements of chapter IV of
the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974,
in force prior to February 1, 1992 (see subparts Q and R of this
part); or
(iii) For ships operated solely on domestic voyages, the
requirements of 80.836.
(6) The expression "ships constructed" means "ships the keels of
which are laid, or construction identificable with a specific ship
begins and assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least
50 tons gross tonnage or 1% of the estimated mass of all structural
material, whichever is less.
(c) The requirements of this subpart do not modify the
requirements for ships navigated on the Great Lakes or small
passenger boats. The requirements contained in the Agreement Be-
tween the United States of America and Canada for Promotion of
Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio, 1973, continue to
apply (see subpart T of this part). The requirements contained in
part III of title III of the Communications Act continue to apply
(see subpart S of this part).
(d) No provision in this subpart is intended to prevent the use by
any ship, survival craft, or person in distress, of any means at
their disposal to attract attention, make known their position and
obtain help.
80.1067 Inspection of station.
(a) Ships must have the required equipment inspected at least once
every 12 months. If the ship is in compliance with the
requirements of the Safety Convention, a Safety Certificate will be
issued; if in compliance with the Communications Act, the license
will be endorsed accordingly. The effective date of the ship
safety certificate is the date the station is found to be in
compliance or not later than one business day later.
(b) Certificates issued in accordance with the Safety Convention
must be posted in a prominent and accessible place on the ship.
80.1069 Maritime sea areas.
(a) For the purpose of this subpart, a ship's area of operation is
defined as follows:
(1) Sea area Al. An area within the radiotelephone coverage of at
least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is
available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.
(2) Sea area A2. An area, excluding sea area Al, within the
radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which
continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the Inter-
national Maritime Organization.
(3) Sea area A3. An area, excluding sea areas Al and A2, within
the coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which
continuous alerting is available.
(4) Sea area A4. An area outside sea areas Al, A2 and A3.
(b) Maritime sea areas are delineated in the International
Maritime Organization Publication GMDSS Master Plan of Shore-Based
Facilities. The Master Plan can be purchased from the
International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.
80.1071 Exemptions.
(a) In certain circumstances, partial or conditional exemptions
may be granted to individual ships from the requirements of
80.1085, 80.1087, 80.1089, 80.1091, and 80.1093 provided: such
ships comply with the functional requirements of 80.1081 and a
showing is made that such an exemption will not have a material
effect upon the general efficiency of the service for the safety of
all ships.
(b) An exemption may be granted under paragraph (a) of this
section only:
(1) If the conditions affecting safety are such as to render the
full application of 80.1085, 80.1087, 80.1089, 80.1091, and
80.1093 unreasonable or unnecessary or otherwise not in the public
interest;
(2) In exceptional circumstances, for a single voyage outside the
sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped; or
(3) Prior to February 1, 1999, when the ship will be taken
permanently out of service within two years of a requirement date
specified in 80.1065.
80.1073 Radio operator requirements for ship stations.
(a) Ships must carry at least two persons holding GMDSS Radio
Operator's Licenses as specified in 13.2 of this chapter for
distress and safety radiocommunications purposes. The GMDSS Radio
Operator's License qualifies personnel as GMDSS radio operator for
the purposes of operating GMDSS radio installation, including basic
equipment adjustments as denoted in knowledge requirements
specified in 13.21 of this chapter.
(1) One of the qualified GMDSS radio operators must be designated
to have primary responsibility for radiocommunications during
distress incidents.
(2) A second qualified GMDSS radio operator must be designated as
backup for distress and safety radiocommunications.
(b) A qualified GMDSS radio operator, and a qualified backup, as
specified in paragraph (a) of this section must be:
(1) Available to act as the dedicated radio operator in cases of
distress as described in 80.1109(a);
(2) Designated to perform as part of normal routine each of the
applicable communications described in 80.1109(b);
(3) Responsible for selecting HF DSC guard channels and receiving
schedule maritime safety information broadcasts;
(4) Designated to perform communications described in 80.1109(c);
(5) Responsible for ensuring that the watches required by 80.1123
are properly maintained; and
(6) Responsible for ensuring that the ship's navigation position
is entered, either manually or automatically through a navigation
receiver, into all installed DSC equipment at least every four
hours while the ship is underway.
80-1074 Radio maintenance personnel for at-sea maintenance.
(a) Ships that elect the at-sea option for maintenance of
GMDSS equipment (see 80.1105) must carry at least one person who
qualifies as a GMDSS radio maintainer, as specified in paragraph
(b) of this section, for the maintenance and repair of equipment
specified in this subpart. This person may be, but need not be,
the person designated as GMDSS radio operator as specified in
80.1073.
(b) The following licenses qualify personnel as GMDSS radio
maintainers to perform at-sea maintenance of equipment specified in
this subpart. For the purposes of this subpart, no order is in-
tended by this listing or the alphanumeric designator.
(1) T-1: First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate;
(2) T-2: Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate;
(3) G: General Radiotelephone Operator License.
(c) While at sea, all adjustments of radio installations,
servicing, or maintenance of such installations that may affect the
proper operation of the GMDSS station must be performed by, or
under the immediate supervision and responsibility of, a qualified
GMDSS radio maintainer as specified in paragraph (b) of this
section.
(d) The GMDSS radio maintainer must possess the knowledge
covering the requirements set forth in IMO Assembly on Training for
Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex 5 and IMO Assembly on Radio
Maintenance Guidelines for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System related to Sea Areas A3 and A4.
80.1075 Radio records.
A record must be kept, as required by the Radio Regulations
and 80.409 (a), (b) and (e), of all incidents connected with the
radiocommunication service which appear to be of importance to
safety of life at sea.
80-1077 Frequencies.
The following table describes the frequencies used in the Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System:
Alerting:
406 EPIRBs. .406-406.1 MHZ (Earth-
. .to space).
. 1544--1545 MHZ (space-to-
. Earth).
INMARSAT A 1626.5-1645.5 MHZ (Earth-
or C SES. . . to-space).
VHF DSC Ch. 156.525 MHZ Note 1.
70.
MP/HF DSC 2187.5 kHz Note 3, 4207.5 kHz,
Note 2 6312 kHz, 8414.5 kHz,
12577 kHz, and 16804.5
kHz.
On-scene com-
munications:
VHF Ch. 16 ...156.8
MF 2182 kHz.
radiotelephony.
NBDP 2174.5 kHz.
Communications
involving air-
craft:
On-scene, in- 156.8 MHZ Note 4, 121.5 MHZ Note 5,
cluding 123.1 MHZ, 156.3 MHZ,
search and 2182 kHz, 3023 kHz, 4125
rescue. kHz, and 5680 kHz. Note 6.
Locating signals:
406 MHZ EPIRB 121.5 MHZ.
beacons.
9 GHz radar 9200-9500 MHZ.
transponders.
Maritime safety
information
(MSI):
International 518 kHz. Note 7.
NAVTEX.
Warnings 490 kHz Note 8, 4209.5 kHz Note 9.
NBDP 4210 kHz, 6314 kHz, 8416.5
kHz, 12579 kHz, 16806.5
kHz, 19680.5 kHz, 22376
kHz, 26100.5 kHz.
Satellite 1530--1545 MHZ (space-to-
space) Note 10.
General distress
and safety
communica-
tions and call-
ing:
Satellite 1530-1544 Mhz (space-to-
Earth) and 1626.5-1645.5
(Earth-to-space) 10.
Radiotelephony 2182 kHz, 4125 kHz. 6215
kHz. 8291 kHz, 12290 kHz, 16420 kHz, and
156.8 MHZ.
NBDP 2174.5 kHz, 4177.5 kHz,
6268 kHz, 8376.5 kHz,
12520 kHz, and 16695 kHz.
DSC 2187.5 kHz, 4207.5 kHz,
6312 kHz, 8414.5 kHz,
12577 kHz, 16804.5 kHz,
and 156.525 MHz.
Survival craft:
VHF 156.8 MHZ and one other
radiotelephony 156-174 MHZ frequency.
9 GHz radar 9200-9500
transponders.
Notes:
1 Frequency 156.525 MHZ can be used for ship-to-
ship alerting and, if within sea area Al, for ship-to-shore
alerting.
2 For ships equipped with MF/HF equipment, there Is a watch
requirement on 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, and one other frequency.
3 Frequency 2187.5 kHz can be used for ship-to-ship alerting and,
if within sea areas A2, for ship-to shore alerting.
4 Frequency 156.8 MHZ may also be used by aircraft for safety
purposes only.
5 Frequency 121.5 MHZ may be used by ships for aeronautical
distress and urgency purposes.
6 The priority of use for ship-aircraft communications in 4125
kHz, then 3023 kHz. Additionally, frequencies 123.1 MHZ. 3023
kHz, and 5680 kHz can be used by land stations engaged in
coordinated search and rescue operations.
7 The international NAVTEX frequency 518 kHz is the primary
frequency for receiving maritime safety information. The other
frequencies are used only to augment the coverage or Information
provided on 518 kHz.
8 Frequency 490 kHz cannot be used for MSI employing NBDP
transmissions until February 2,1999.
9 Frequency 4209.5 kHz is not used in the United States (see 47
CFR 2.106 footnote 520A).
10 In addition to EPIRBS, 1544-1545 MHZ can be used for
narrowband distress and safety operations and 1645.5-1646.5 MHZ
can be used for relay of distress alerts between satellites.
Feeder links for satellite communications are assigned from the
fixed satellite service, see 47 CFR 2.106.
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIP
STATIONS
80.1081 Functional requirements.
Ships, while at sea, must be capable: (a) Except as provided in
80.1087(a)(1) and 80.1091(a)(4)(iii), of transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent
means, each using a different radiocommunication service;
(b) Of receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts;
(c)Of transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts;
(d) Of transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordinating
communications;
(e) Of transmitting and receiving on-
scene communications;
(f) Of transmitting and receiving signals for locating;
(g) Of transmitting and receiving maritime safety information;
(h) Of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications to
and from shore-based radio systems or networks; and
(i) Of transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.
80.1083 Ship radio installations.
(a) Ships must be provided with radio installations capable of
complying with the functional requirements prescribed by 80.1081
throughout its intended voyage and, unless exempted under 80.1071,
complying with the requirements of 80.1085 and, as appropriate for
the sea area of areas through which it will pass during its
intended voyage, the requirements of either 80.1087, 80.1089,
80.1091, or 80.1093.
(b) The radio installation must:
(1) Be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical,
electrical or other origin affects its proper use, and so as to
ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance of harmful
interaction with other equipment and systems;
(2) Be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of
safety and operational availability;
(3) Be protected against harmful effects of water, extremes of
temperature and other adverse environmental conditions;
(4) Be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical
lighting, independent of the main and emergency sources of
electrical power, for the adequate illumination of the radio
controls for operating the radio installation; and
(5) Be clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station
identity and other codes as applicable for the use of the radio
installation.
(e) Control of the VHF radiotelephone channels required for
navigational safety must be immediately available on the navigating
bridge convenient to the conning position and, where necessary,
facilities should be available to permit radiocommunications from
the wings of the navigating bridge. Portable VHF equipment may be
used to meet the latter provision.
80.1085 Ship radio equipment - General.
This section contains the general equipment requirements for all
ship subject to this subpart.
(a) Ships must be provided with:
(1) A VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and
receiving:
(i) DSC on the frequency 156.525 MHZ (channel 70), and it must be
able to initiate the transmission of distress alerts on channel 70
from the position from which the ship is normally navigated; and
(ii) Radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHZ (channel 6),
156.650 MHZ (channel 13), and 156.800 MHZ (channel 16);
(2) A dedicated, non-scanning radio installation capable of
maintaining a continuous DSC watch on VHF channel 70 which may be
separate from, or combined with, that required by paragraph
(a)(1)(i) of this section;
(3) A radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band,
which must be stowed so that it is easily utilized (this
transponder may be one of those required by 80.1095(b) for a
survival craft);
(4) A receiver capable of receiving international NAVTEX service
broadcasts;
(5) If the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of INMARSAT
coverage in which an international NAVTEX service is not provided,
a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by
the INMARSAT enhanced group calling system, i.e., SafetyNet, (this
requirement does not apply to ships engaged exclusively on voyages
in areas where an HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety
information service, as identified by the IMO GMDSS Master Plan
Publication, is provided and the ship is fitted with equipment
capable of receiving such service); and
(6) A satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon
(satellite EPIRB) which must be:
(I) Capable of transmitting a distress alert through the polar
orbiting satellite service operating in the 406 MHZ band (406 MHZ
EPIRB); and
(ii) Installed in an easily accessible position, ready to be
manually released and capable of being carried by one person into
a survival craft, capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of
being automatically activated when afloat, and capable of being
activated manually.
(b) Until February 1, 1999, all ships must be equipped with a
radio installation consisting of a radiotelephone distress
frequency 2182 kHz watch receiver prescribed by 80.807. This
requirement does not apply to ships constructed on or after
February 1, 1997.
(c) Until February 1, 1999, all ships, except ships engaged on
voyages in sea area Al only, must be equipped with a device for
generating the 2182 kHz radiotelephone alarm signal as prescribed
by 80.807. This requirement does not apply to ships constructed on
or after February 1, 1997.
(d) Ships must carry the most recent edition of the IMO
publication entitled GMDSS Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities.
Notice of new editions will be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER
and copies may be obtained from: International Maritime
Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 60 FR 50122, Sept. 28,
1995]
EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: At 60 FR 50122, Sept. 28, 1995, in 80.1085,
paragraph (a)(3) was revised, effective October 31, 1995. For the
convenience of the reader, the superseded text is set forth below.
80.1085 Ship radio equipment - General.
(a) * * *
(3) A radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz bank,
which must be stowed so that it is easily utilized (this
transponder may be one of those required by 80.1095(b) for a
survival craft);
80.1087 Ship radio equipment area Al.
This section contains the additional equipment requirements for
ships that remain within sea area Al at all times.
(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of 80.1085, ships
engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area Al must be provided with
a radio installation capable of initiating the transmission of
ship-to-shore distress alerts from the position from which the ship
is normally navigated, operating either:
(1) On VHF using DSC; or
(2) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHZ
(this requirement may be fulfilled by the 406 MHZ EPIRB,
required by 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the 406 MHZ
EPIRB close to, or by allowing remote activation from, the
position from which the ship is normally navigated); or
(3) On MF using DSC if the ship is engaged on voyages within
coverage of MF coast stations equipped with DSC; or
(4) On HF using DSC; or
(5) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service if
within INMARSAT coverage. This requirement may be fulfilled by
an INMARSAT ship earth station capable of two way communication.
(b) The VHF radio installation, required by 80.1085(a)(1),
must also be capable of transmitting and receiving general
radiocommunications using radiotelephony.
80.1089 Ship radio equipment areas Al and A2.
This section contains the additional equipment requirements for
ships that remain within sea areas Al or A2 at all times. Ships
fitting in accordance with this section satisfy the sea area Al
requirements denoted in 80.1087.
(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of 80.1085, ships
engaged on voyages beyond sea area Al, but remaining within sea
area A2, must be provided with:
(1) An MF radio installation capable of transmitting and
receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies:
(I) 2187.5 kHz using DSC; and
(ii) 2182 kHz using radiotelephony;
(2) A radio installation capable of
maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency 2187.5 kHz
which may be separate from or combined with, that required by
paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section; and
(3) Means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore
distress alerts by a radio service other than MF operating
either:
(i) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHZ
(this requirement may be fulfilled by the 406 MHZ EPIRB required
by 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the 406 MHZ EPIRB close
to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from
which the ship is normally navigated); or
(ii) On HF using DSC; or
(iii) Through the INMARSAT stationary satellite service if
wit INMARSAT coverage; this requirement may be fulfilled by an
INMARSAT earth station.
(b) It must be possible to initiate transmission of distress
alerts by radio installations specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and
(a)(3) of this section from the position from which the ship is
normally navigated.
(c) Ships subject to this section must be capable of
transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications using
radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by either:
(1) A radio installation operating working frequencies in the
bands between 1605-4000 kHz or between 27500 kHz (this
requirement may be filled by the addition of this capability to
the equipment required by graph (a)(1) of this section); or
(2) An INMARSAT ship earth station
80.1091 Ship radio equipment - Sea areas Al, A2, and A3. -
This section contains the additional equipment requirements for
ships that remain within sea areas Al, A2, or at all times. Ships
fitting in accordance with this section satisfy the requirements
denoted in 80.1087 80.1089 for sea-areas Al and A2. Ships
fitting in accordance to this section have the option to comply
with either the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) of this
section.
(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of 80.1085, ships
subject this section must be provided with:
(1) An INMARSAT ship earth station capable of:
(i) Transmitting and receiving distress and safety
communications using direct-printing telegraphy;
(ii) Initiating and receiving diststress priority calls;
(iii) Maintaining watch for shore-to-ship distress alert,
including those directed to specifically defined graphical
areas;
(iv) Transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications,
using either radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy; and
(2) An MF radio installation capable of transmitting and
receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies:
(i) 2187.5 kHz using DSC; and
(ii) 2182 kHz using radiotelephony; and
(3) A radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC
watch on the frequency 2187.5 kHz which may be separate from or
combined with that required by paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this
section; and
(4) Means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore
distress alerts by a radio service operating either:
(i) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHZ
(this requirement may be fulfilled by the 406 MHZ EPIRB required
by 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the 406 MHZ EPIRB close
to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from
which the ship is normally navigated); or
(ii) On HF using DSC: or
(iii) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service,
by an additional ship earth station.
(b) In addition to meeting the requirements of 80.1085, ships
subject to this section must be provided with:
(1) An MF/HF radio installation capable of transmitting and
receiving on all distress and safety frequencies in the bands
between 1605-27500 kHz using DSC, radiotelephony, and narrow-band
direct-printing telegraphy; and
(2) Equipment capable of maintaining DSC watch on 2187.5 kHz,
8414.5 kHz and on at least one of the distress and safety DSC
frequencies 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or 16804.5 kHz
although it must be possible to select any of these DSC distress
and safety frequencies at any time (this equipment may be
separate from, or combined with, the equipment required by para-
graph (b)(1) of this section); and
(3) Means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore
distress alerts by a radiocommunication service other than HF
operating either:
(i) Through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHZ
(this requirement may be fulfilled by the 406 MHZ EPIRB required
by 80.1085(a)(6), either by installing the 406 MHZ EPIRB close
to, or by allowing remote activation from, the position from
which the ship is normally navigated; or
(ii) Through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service
(this requirement may be fulfilled by an INMARSAT ship earth
station).
(4) In addition, ships must be capable of transmitting and
receiving general radiocommunications using radiotelephony or
direct-printing telegraphy by an MF/HF radio installation
operating on working frequencies in the bands between 1605-4000
kHz and between 4000-27500 kHz (this requirement may be fulfilled
by the addition of this capability to the equipment required by
paragraph (b)(1) of this section).
(c) It must be possible to initiate transmission of distress
alerts by the radio installations specified in paragraphs (a)(1),
(a)(2), (a)(4), (b)(1), and (b)(3) of this section from the
position from which the ship is normally navigated.
80-1093 Ship radio equipment - Sea areas Al, A2, AS and A4. -
This section contains the additional equipment requirements for
ships that sail in all sea areas, i.e., sea areas Al, A2, A3, and
A4. Ships fitting in accordance with this section satisfy the
requirements denoted in 80.1087, 80.1089, and 80.1091 for sea
areas Al, A2, and A3.
(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of 80.1085, ships
engaged on voyages in all sea areas must be provided with the
radio installations and equipment required by 80.1091(b), except
that the equipment required by 80.1091(b)(3)(ii) cannot be
accepted as an alternative to that required by regulation
80.1091(b)(3)(i), which must always be provided.
(b) Ships engaged on voyages in all sea areas also must comply
with the requirements of 80.1091(c).
80.1095 Survival craft equipment.
(a) At least three two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus must be
provided on every passenger ship and on every cargo ship of 500
tons gross tonnage and upwards. At least two two-way VHF
radiotelephone apparatus must be provided on every cargo ship of
between tons gross tonnage. Portable two-way VHF radiotelephones
must be stowed in such locations that they can be rapidly placed
in any survival craft other than life rafts required by
Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention. Alternatively,
survival craft may be fitted with a fixed two-way VHF
radiotelephone installation. Two-way VHF radiotelephone appara-
tus, portable or fixed, must conform to performance standards as
specified in 80.1101. Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus
provided on board ships prior to February 1, 1992, and not
complying fully with the performance standards specified in
80.1101, may be used until February 1, 1999, provided it is
compatible with approved two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus.
(b) At least one radar transponder must be carried on each side
of every passenger ship and every cargo ship of 500 tons gross
tonnage and upwards. At least one radar transponder must be
carried on every cargo ship of 300 tons gross tonnage and upwards
but less than 500 tons gross tonnage. Such radar transponders
must conform to performance standards as specified in 80.1101.
The radar transponders must be stowed in such locations that they
can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than life rafts
required on cargo ships in forward and aft areas (see Regulation
III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention). Alternatively, one radar
transponder must be stowed in each survival craft other than
those required by Regulation III/26.1.4 of the SOLAS Convention.
One of these radar transponders may be radar transponder required
by 80.1085(a)(3).
(e) Survival craft equipment must be tested at intervals not to
exceed twelve months. For batteries used for survival craft
equipment, the month and year of its manufacture must be
permanently marked on the battery. Also, the month and year upon
which 50 percent of its useful life will expire must be
permanently marked on both the battery and the outside of the
transmitter. Batteries must be replaced if 50 percent of their
useful life has expired or if the transmitter has been used in an
emergency situation.
80.1099 Ship sources of energy.
(a) There must be available at all times, while the ship is at
sea, a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the
radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part o
reserve source of energy for the radio installations.
(b) A reserve source of energy to s ply radio installations must
be vided on every ship for the purpose conducting distress and
safe radiocommunications, in the event failure of the ship's main
and emergency sources of electrical power. The reserve sources of
energy must be capable of simultaneously operating the VHF radio
installation required 80.1085(a)(1) and, as appropriate for the
sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped, either the
MF radio installation required by 80.1089(a)(1), the MF/HF radio
installation required by 80.1091(a)(2)(i) or 80.1093(a), or the
INMARSAT ship earth station required by 80.1091(a)(1) and any of
the additional loads mentioned in paragraph (d), (e) and (h) of
this section for a period of at least:
(1) One hour, on ships constructed or after February 1, 1995;
(2) One hour, on ships constructed before February 1, 1995, if the
emergency source of electrical power complies fully with all
relevant requirements SOLAS, Chapter II-1, Regulation 42 or 43 (as
amended); or
(3) Six hours, on ships construct before February 1, 1995, and on
cargo ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, if the emergency
source of electrical power is not provided or does not comply fully
with all relevant requirements of SOLAS, Chapter II-1, Regulation
42 or 43 (as amended).
(c) The reserve sources of energy need not supply independent HF
and MF radio installations at the same time. The reserve sources
of energy must be independent of the propelling power of the ship
and the ship's electrical system.
(d) Where, in addition to the VHF radio installation, two or more
of the other radio installations, referred to in paragraph (b) of
this section, can connected to the reserve sources of energy, they
must be capable of simultaneously supplying, for one hour,
specified in paragraph (b) of this section, the VHF radio
installation and;
(1) All other radio installation which can be connected to the
reserve sources of energy at the same time;
(2) Whichever of the other radio installations will consume the
most power, if only one of the other radio installations can be
connected to the reserve sources of energy at the same time as the
VHF radio installation.
(e) The reserve sources of energy may be used to supply the
electrical lighting required by 80.1083(b)(4).
(f) Where a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable
accumulator battery or batteries:
(1) A means of automatically charging such batteries must be
provided which must be capable of recharging them to minimum
capacity requirements within 10 hours; and
(2) The capacity of the battery or batteries must be checked,
using an appropriate method, at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
These checks must be performed when the vessel is not at sea.
(g) The accumulator batteries which provide a reserve source of
energy must be installed to ensure: The highest degree of service,
a reasonable lifetime, reasonable safety; that the battery
temperatures remain within the manufacturer's specifications
whether under charge or idle; and that when fully charged, the
batteries will provide at least the minimum required hours of
operation under all weather conditions.
(h) If an uninterrupted input of information from the ship's
navigational or other equipment to a radio installation required by
this subpart is needed to ensure its proper performance, means must
be provided to ensure the continuous supply of such information in
the event of failure of the ship's main or emergency source of
electrical power.
(i) An uninterruptible power supply or other means of ensuring a
continuous supply of electrical power, within equipment tolerances,
shall be provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by
normal variations and interruptions of ship's power.
80.1 101 Performance standards.
(a) The abbreviations used in this section are as follows:
(1) International Maritime Organization (IMO).
(2) International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee
(CCITT).
(3) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
(4) International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
(5) International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).
(b) All equipment specified in this subpart must meet the general
requirements for shipboard equipment listed in this paragraph,
which are incorporated by reference.
(1) IMO Resolution A.694(17), "General Requirements for Shipborne
Radio Equipment Forming Part of the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System (GMDSS) and for Electronic Navigational Aids,"
adopted 6 November 1991.
(2) CCITT Recommendation E.161, "Arrangement of Figures, Letters
and Symbols on Telephones and Other Devices that Can Be Used for
Gaining Access to a Telephone Network," 1989.
(3) CCITT Recommendation Q.11, "Numbering Plan for the
International Telephone Service," 1989.
(4) IEC Publication 92-101, "Electrical Installations in Ships,"
Third Edition 1980 with amendments through 1984.
(5) IEC Publication 533, "Electromagnetic Compatibility of
Electrical and Electronic Installations in Ships," First Edition
1977.
(6) IEC Publication 945, "Maxine Navigational Equipment," First
Edition 1988.
(7) ISO Standard 3791, "Office Machines and Data Processing Equip
ment-Keyboard Layouts for Numeric Applications," First Edition
1976(E).
(c) The equipment specified in this subpart must also conform to
the appropriate performance standards listed below which are
incorporated by reference.
(1) NAVTEX receivers:
(i) IMO Resolution A.525(13), "Performance Standards for Narrow-band Direct Printing Telegraph Equipment for the Reception of
Navigational and Meteorological Warnings and Urgent Information to
Ships," adopted 17 November 1983.
(ii) CCIR Recommendation 540-2, "Operational and Technical
Characteristics for an Automated Direct-printing Telegraph System
for Promulgation of Navigational and Meteorological Warnings and
Urgent Information to Ships," 1990.
(2) VHF radio equipment:
(i) IMO Resolution A.609(15), "Performance Standards for Shipborne
VHF Radio Installations Capable of Voice Communication and Digital
Selective Calling," adopted 19 November 1987.
(ii) CCIR Recommendation 493-4, "Digital Selective-calling
System for use in the Maritime Mobile Service," 1990.
(3) MF radio equipment:
(i) IMO Resolution A. 610(15), "Performance Standards for
Shipborne MF Radio Installations Capable of Voice Communication and
Digital Selective Calling," adopted 19 November 1987.
(ii) CCIR Recommendation 493-4, "Digital Selective-calling
System for use in the Maritime Mobile Service," 1990.
(4) MF/HF radio equipment:
(i) IMO Resolution A.613(15), "Performance Standards for Shipborne
MF/HF Radio Installations capable of Voice Communication, Narrow-band Direct Printing and Digital Selective Calling," adopted 19
November 1987.
(ii) CCIR Recommendations 493-4, "Digital Selective-calling
System for use in the Maritime Mobile Service," 1990.
(iii) CCIR Recommendation 625-1, "Direct-printing Telegraph
Equipment Employing Automatic Identification in the Maritime Mobile
Service," 1990. Equipment may conform to CCIR Recommendation 476-4, "Direct-Printing Telegraph Equipment in the Maritime Mobile
Service," 1986, in lieu of CCIR Recommendation 625-1, where such
equipment was installed on ships prior to February 1, 1993.
(iv) IMO Resolution A.700(17), "Performance Standards for
Narrow-band Direct-printing Telegraph Equipment for the Reception
of Navigational and Meteorological Warnings and Urgent Information
to Ships (MSI) by HF," adopted 6 November 1991.
(5) 406 MHZ EPIRBS:
(i) IMO Resolution A.611(15), "Performance Standards for Float-free Satellite Emergency Position-indicating Radio Beacons Oper-
ating on 406 MHZ," adopted 19 November 1987.
(ii) IMO Resolution A.662(16), "Performance Standards for
Float-free Release and Activation Arrangements for
Emergency Radio Equipment," adopted 19 October 1989.
(iii) CCIR Recommendation 633-1, "Transmission Characteristics
of a Satellite Emergency Position-indicating Radiobeacon (Satellite
EPIRB) System Operating Through a Low Polar-orbiting Satellite
System in the 406 MHZ Band," 1990.
(iv) The 406 MHZ EPIRBs must also comply with 80.1061.
(6) 9 GHz radar transponders:
(i) IMO Resolution A.604(15), "Performance Standards for Survival
Craft Radar Transponders for Use in Search and Rescue Operations,"
adopted 19 November 1987.
(ii) CCIR Recommendation 628-1, Technical Characteristics for
Search and Rescue Radar Transponders," 1990.
(7) Two-way VHF radiotelephone: IMO Resolution A.605(15),
"Performance Standards for Survival Craft Two-way VHF
Radiotelephone Apparatus", adopted 19 November 1987.
(8) INMARSAT-A SES. IMO Resolution A.698(17), "Performance
Standards for Ship Earth Stations Capable of Two-way
Communications," adopted 6 November 1991.
(9) INMARSAT-C SES: IMO Resolution A.663(16), "Performance
Standards for INMARSAT Standard-C Ship Earth Stations Capable of
Transmitting and Receiving Direct-printing Communications," adopted
19 October 1989.
(10) INMARSAT EGC: IMO Resolution A.664(16), "Performance
Standards for Enhanced Group Call Equipment," adopted 19 October
1989.
(d) The above-referenced documents have been approved for
incorporation by reference by the Director of the Federal Register
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CPR part 51.
Identification data and place to purchase for each of the above-reference documents are listed as follows:
(1) Copies of IMO Resolutions, the 1974 SOLAS Convention, and
the 1 and 1988 amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention can be
purchase from Publications, International Maritime Organization,
4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.
(i) IMO resolution A.525(13) is contained in the Resolutions and
Other Decisions of the Assembly of the International Maritime
Organization, 13th Session, 1983, (IMO, London, 1984), Sales Number
073 84.07.E.
(ii) IMO Resolutions A.604(15), A.605(15), A.610(15),
A.611(15) and A.613(15) are contained in the Resolutions and Other
Decisions of the Assembly of the International Maritime
Organization, 15th Session, 1987, (IMO, London, 1988), Sales Number
130 88.03.E.
(iii) IMO Resolutions A.662(16), A.663(16) and A.664(16) are
contained in the Resolutions and Other Decisions of the Assembly of
the International Maritime Organization, 16th Session, 1989, (IMO,
London, 1990), Sales Number 136 90.04.E
(iv) IMO Resolutions A.694(17), A.698(17), and A.700(17) can
be ordered from IMO by requesting "A.694, A.698, or A.700(17) from
the seventeenth session." IMO Resolutions A.694(17), A.698(17), and
A.700(17) will be published in the Resolutions and Other Decisions
of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization, 17th
Session, 1991.
(2) CCIR Recommendations, Radio Regulations, and CCITT publica-
tions can be purchased from the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.
(i) All CCIR Recommendations referenced in this Section are
contained in Recommendations of the CCIR, 1990, Volume VIII, (ITU,
Geneva, 1990), 92-610424104.
(ii) CC= Recommendation E.161 is contained in CC= Volume II-Telephone and Network ISDN-Operation, Numbering, Routing and Mobile
Service, (ITU, Geneva, 1989), ISBN 92-6103261-3.
(iii) CC= Recommendation Q.11 is contained in CCITT Blue Book
Volume VI, General Recommendation on Telephone Switching and
Signalling,
Geneva, 1989), ISBN 92-6143451-9.
(3) IEC Publications can be purchased from the International
Electrotechnical Commission, 3 Rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20,
Switzerland, or from the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, telephone (212)
642-4900.
(4) ISO Standards can be purchased from the International
Organization for Standardization, I Rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva
20, Switzerland, or from the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, telephone (212)
642-4900.
(5) Copies of the publications listed in this Section that are
incorporated by reference may be inspected at the Federal
Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Dockets Branch (room
239), Washington, DC or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800
North Capital Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
[57 FR 44701, Sept. 29, 19921
80.1 103 Equipment authorization.
(a) All equipment specified 80.1101 must be type accepted in
accordance with 47 CPR part 2 specifically for GMDSS use, except
for equipment used in the INMARSAT space segment which must be
type-approved by INMARSAT and notified in accordance with 47 CFR
part 2 specifically for GMDSS use. The technical parameters of the
equipment must conform to the performance standards as specified in
80.1101. For emergency position-indicating radiobeacons operating
on 406 MHZ (406 MHZ EPIRBS) that were authorized prior to April 15,
1992, and meet the requirements of 80.1101, the manufacturer may
attest by letter that the equipment (indicate FCC ID#) meets the
requirements of 80.1101 and request that it be denoted as approved
for GMDSS use.
(b) Applicants for type acceptance must submit with their
applications measurement data sufficiently complete to ensure
compliance with the technical parameters. The application must
include the items listed in 47 CFR 2.983. Additional measurement
data or information may be requested depending upon the equipment.
For items not listed in 2.983 of this chapter, the applicant must
attest that the equipment complies with performance standards as
specified in 80.1101 and, where applicable, that measurements have
been made that demonstrate the necessary compliance. Submission of
representative data demonstrating compliance is not required unless
requested by the Commission.
(c) Applicants for notification must attest that the equipment
complies with performance standards as specified in 80.1101 and,
where applicable, that measurements have been made that demonstrate
the necessary compliance. Submission of representative data
demonstrating compliance is not required unless requested by the
Commission. An application must include the items listed in 2.975
of this chapter and a copy of the INMARSAT type approval
certificate indicating that equipment meets GMDSS standards and
includes all peripheral equipment associated with the specific unit
under review.
(d) Submission of a sample unit is not required unless
specifically requested by the Commission.
(e) In addition to the requirements in part 2 of this chapter,
equipment specified in 80.1101 shall be labeled as follows: "This
device complies with the GMDSS provisions of part 80 of the FCC
Rules." Such a label is not required for emergency position-indicating radiobeacons operating on 406 MHZ (406 MHZ EPIRBS) that
were authorized prior to April 15, 1992.
(57 FR 9065, Mar. 16, 1992, as amended at 57
FR 44702, Sept. 29, 1992]
80.1105 Maintenance requirements.
(a) Equipment must be so designed that the main units can be
replaced readily, without elaborate recalibration or readjustment.
Where applicable, equipment must be constructed and installed so
that it is readily accessible for inspection and on-board
maintenance purposes. Adequate information must be provided to
enable the equipment to be properly operated and maintained (see
IMO Resolution A.569(14)).
(b) Radio equipment required by this Subpart must be maintained to
provide the availability of the functional requirements specified
in 80.1081 and to meet the performance standards specified in
80.1101.
(c) On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas Al and A2, the
availability must be ensured by duplication of equipment, shore-based maintenance, or at-sea electronic maintenance capability, or
a combination of these.
(d) On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas A3 and A4, the
availability must be ensured by using a combination of at least two
of the following methods: duplication of equipment, shore-based
maintenance, or at-sea electronic maintenance capability.
(e) Irrespective of the maintenance methods used, a ship must not
depart from any port unless and until the ship is capable of
performing all distress and safety functions as specified in
80.1081.
(f) Irrespective of the maintenance methods used, all
manufacturers' instruction manuals and maintenance manuals for each
piece of equipment required and installed must be available on-board ship. Adequate tools, spare parts, and test equipment appro-
priate to the methods used by the ship as recommended by the
manufacturer should be provided. The manuals, tools, spare parts,
and test equipment, as applicable, should be readily accessible.
(g) If the duplication of equipment maintenance method is used,
the following radio installations, in addition to other equipment
requirements specified in this Subpart, must be available on-board
ships for their sea areas as applicable. Equipment carried in
accordance with this paragraph must comply with 80.1101 and
80.1103. Additionally, each radio installation must be connected to
a separate antenna and be installed and be ready for immediate
operation.
(1) Ships, equipped in accordance with 80.1087 for sea area Al,
must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the requirements
of 80.1085(a)(1).
(2) Ships, equipped in accordance with 80.1089 for sea areas Al
and A2, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the
requirements o 80.1085(a)(1) and an MF radio installation
complying with the requirements of 80.1089(a)(1) and being able to
fully comply with watch requirements as specified in
80.1123(a)(2). The MF radio installation installed for duplication
must also comply with the requirements 80.1089(c).
(3) Ships, equipped in accordance with 80.1091 for sea areas Al,
A2, and A3, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with the
requirements of 80.1085(a)(1) and either an MF/HF radio
installation complying with the requirements of 80.1091(b)(1) and
being able to fully comply with watch requirements as specified in
80.1123(a)(2) or an INMARSAT ship earth station complying with the
requirements of 80.1091(a)(1). The MF/HF radio installation or the
INMARSAT ship earth station installed for duplication must also
comply with the requirements 80.1091(c).
(4) Ships, equipped in accordance with 80.1093 for sea areas Al,
A2, A3, and A4, must carry a VHF radio installation complying with
the requirement of 80.1085(a)(1) and an MF/HP radio installation
complying with the requirements of 80.1091(b)(1) and being able
to fully comply with watch requirements as specified in
80.1123(a)(2). The MF/ HF radio installation installed for du-
plication must also comply with the requirements 80.1091(c).
(h) The radio installations specified in paragraph (g) of this
section (referred as "duplicated equipment"), in addition to the
appropriate radio equipment specified in 80.1099 (referred as
"basic equipment"), must be connected to the reserve sources of en-
ergy required by 80.1099. The capacity of the reserve sources of
energy should be sufficient to operate the particular installation
(i.e., the basic equipment or the duplicated equipment) with the
highest power consumption, for the appropriate period specified in
80.1099. However, the arrangement for the reserve sources of
energy must be such that a single fault in this arrangement cannot
affect both the basic and the duplicated equipment.
(i) If the shore-based maintenance method is used, the following
requirements apply.
(1) Maintenance services must be completed and performance
verified and noted in the ship's record before departure from the
first port of call entered after any failure occurs.
(2) Each GMDSS equipment must be tested and performance verified
and the results noted in the ship's record before departure from
every port. To accomplish this, each ship shall carry a
performance checkoff sheet listing each GMDSS equipment carried on
a mandatory basis.
(j) If the at-sea maintenance method is used, the following
requirements apply.
(1) Adequate additional technical documentation, tools, test
equipment, and spare parts must be carried onboard ship to enable
a qualified maintainer as specified in 80.1074 to perform tests
and localize and repair faults in the radio equipment.
(2) Only persons that comply with the requirements of 80.1074 may
perform at-sea maintenance on radio installations required by this
subpart.
OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR DISTRESS
AND SAFETY. COMMUNICATIONS
80.1109 Distress, urgency, and safety communications.
(a) Distress traffic consists of all messages relating to the
immediate assistance required by the ship in distress, including
search and rescue communications and on-scene communications.
Distress traffic must as far as possible be on the frequencies
contained in 80.1077.
(b) Urgency and safety communications include: navigational and
meteorological warnings and urgent information; ship-to-ship safety
navigation communications; ship reporting communications; support
communications for search and rescue operations; other urgency and
safety messages and communications relating to the navigation,
movements and needs of ships and weather observation messages
destined for an official meteorological service.
(c) Intership navigation safety communications are those VHF
radiotelephone communications conducted between ships for the
purpose of contributing to the safe movement of ships. The
frequency 156.650 MHZ is used for intership navigation safety
communications (see 80.1077).
80.1111 Distress alerting.
(a) The transmission of a distress alert indicates that a mobile
unit or person is in distress and requires immediate assistance.
The distress alert is a digital selective call using a distress
call format in bands used for terrestrial radiocommunication or a
distress message format, which is relayed through space stations.
(b) The distress alert must be sent through a satellite either
with absolute priority in general communication channels or on
exclusive distress and safety frequencies or, alternatively, on the
distress and safety frequencies in the MF, HF, and VHF bands using
digital selective calling.
(c) The distress alert must be sent only on the authority of the
person responsible for the ship, aircraft or other vehicle carrying
the mobile station or the mobile earth station.
(d) All stations which receive a distress alert transmitted by
digital selective calling must immediately cease
any transmission capable of interfering with distress traffic and
must continue watch until the call has been acknowledged.
80.1113 Transmission of a distress alert.
(a) The distress alert must identify the station in distress and
its position. The distress alert may also contain information
regarding the nature of the distress, the type of assistance re-
quired, the course and speed of the mobile unit, the time that this
information was recorded and any other information which might
facilitate rescue.
(b) The format of distress calls and distress messages must be in
accordance with CCIR Recommendation 493 as specified in 80.1101.
(c) Ship-to-shore distress alerts are used to alert Rescue
Coordination Centers via coast stations or coast earth stations
that a ship is in distress. These alerts are based on the use of
transmissions via satellites (from a ship earth station or a
satellite EPIRB) and terrestrial services (from ship stations and
EPIRBS).
(d) Ship-to-ship distress alerts are used to alert other ships in
the vicinity of the ship in distress and are based on the use of
digital selective calling in the VHF, MF, and HF bands.
(e) Shore-to-ship distress alert relays are used by a station or
Rescue Coordination Center to relay information about a ship in
distress to, as appropriate, all ships, a selected group of ships,
or a specific ship by satellite and/or terrestrial means. The
distress alert relay must contain the identification of the mobile
unit in distress, its position and all other information which
might facilitate rescue.
80.1115 Transmission of a distress alert by a station not itself
in distress.
(a) A station in the mobile or mobile satellite service which
learns that mobile unit is in distress must initiate and transmit
a distress alert relay in any of the following cases:
(1) When the mobile unit in distress is not itself in a position
to transmit the distress alert; or
(2) When the master or person responsible for the mobile unit not
in distress or the person responsible for the land station
determines that further help is necessary.
(b) A station transmitting a distress alert relay in accordance
with paragraph (a) of this section or 80.1121(c) must indicate
that it is not itself in distress.
80.1117 Procedure for receipt and acknowledgment of distress
alerts.
(a) Acknowledgment by digital selective calling of receipt of a
distress alert in the terrestrial services must comply with CCIR
Recommendation 541, which is incorporated by reference.
(b) Acknowledgment through a satellite of receipt of a distress
alert from a ship earth station must be sent immediately (see
80.1119).
(c) Acknowledgment by radiotelephony of receipt of a distress
alert from a ship station or a ship earth station must be given in
the following form:
(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;
(2) The call sign or other identification of the station sending
the distress message, spoken three times;
(3) The words THIS IS (or DE spoken as DELTA ECHO in case of
language difficulties);
(4) The call sign or other identification of the station
acknowledging receipt, spoken three times;
(5) The word RECEIVED (or R.R. spoken as ROMEO ROMEO ROMEO in
case of language difficulties);
(6) The distress signal MAYDAY.
(d) The acknowledgment by direct printing telegraphy of receipt
of a distress alert from a ship station must be given in the
following form:
(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;
(2) The call sign or other identification of the
station sending the distress alert;
(3) The word DE;
(4) The call sign or other identification of the
station acknowledging receipt of the distress alert;
(5) The signal RRR;
(6) The distress signal MAYDAY.
(e) The acknowledgement by direct-printing telegraphy
of receipt of a distress alert from a ship earth
station must be given by the coast earth station
receiving the distress alert by retransmitting the ship
station identity of the ship transmitting the distress
alert.
80-1119 Receipt and acknowledgment of distress alerts by
coast stations and coast earth stations.
(a) Coast stations that receive a distress alert
should defer acknowledgment for a short interval so that re-
ceipt may be acknowledged by a Rescue Coordination Center.
Where an acknowledgment is not forthcoming within 3 minutes,
the coast station in receipt of distress alerts must ensure
that they are routed to a Rescue Coordination Center as soon
as possible. Coast stations must provide assistance for
distress communications when requested to do so by the U.S.
Coast Guard. (This subpart does not specify any radio
watches for coast stations.)
(b) Coast earth stations in receipt of distress alerts
must ensure that they are routed as soon as possible to a
Rescue Coordination Center. Coast earth stations must
relay, as soon as possible, an acknowledgment of a distress
alert from a Rescue Coordination Center.
(c) Certain messages must be carried without charge,
regardless of the means by which they are transmitted:
(1) Distress alert messages;
(2) Search and rescue coordination messages;
(3) Medical assistance messages where an imminent danger
to life is present, or
(4) Urgent meteorological or navigational danger messages
passed in the ship-to-shore direction.
80.1121 Receipt and acknowledgment of distress alerts by
ship stations and ship earth stations.
(a) Ship or ship earth stations that receive a distress
alert must, as soon as possible, inform the master or person
responsible for the ship of the contents of the distress
alert.
(b) In areas where reliable communications with one or
more coast stations are practicable, ship stations in receipt
of a distress alert should defer acknowledgment for a short
interval so that receipt may be acknowledged by a coast
station.
(c) Ship stations operating in areas where reliable
communications with a coast station are not practicable that
receive a distress alert from a ship station which is, beyond
doubt, in their vicinity, must, as soon as possible and if
appropriately equipped, acknowledge receipt and inform a
Rescue Coordination Center through a coast station or coast
earth station (see 80.1115(a)(2)). However, a ship station
receiving an HF distress alert must not acknowledge it but
must observe the requirements of 80.1123, and must, if the
alert is not acknowledged by a coast station within 3 minutes,
relay the distress alert.
(d) A ship station acknowledging receipt of a distress
alert in accordance with paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section
should:
(1) Acknowledge receipt of the alert by using
radiotelephony on the distress and safety traffic frequency in
the band used for the alert;
(2) if acknowledgment by radiotelephony of the distress
alert received on the MF or VHF distress alerting frequency is
unsuccessful, acknowledge receipt of the distress alert by
responding with a digital selective call on the appropriate
frequency.
(e) A ship station in receipt of a shore-to-ship distress
alert relay (see 80.1113(e)) should establish communication
as directed and render such assistance as required and
appropriate.
80.1123 Watch requirements for ship stations.
(a) While at sea, all ships must maintain a continuous
watch:
(1) On VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship is fitted with
a VHF radio installation in accordance with 80.1085(a)(2);
(2) On the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5
kHz, if the ship is fitted with an MF radio installation in
accordance with 80.1089(a)(2) or 80.1091(a)(3);
(3) On the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5
kHz and 8414.5 kHz also on at least one of the distress and
safety DSC frequencies 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz, or
16804.5 kHz appropriate to the time of day and the geo-
graphical position of the ship, if the ship is fitted with
an MF/HF radio installation in accordance with
80.1091(a)(2)(ii) or 80.1093(a) of this part (this watch
may be kept by means of a scanning receiver limited to six
distress and safety DSC frequencies); and
(4) For satellite shore-to-ship distress alert, if the
ship is fitted with an INMARSAT ship earth station in ac-
cordance with 80.1091(a)(1).
(b) While at sea, all ships must maintain radio
watches for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the
appropriate frequency or frequencies on which such
information is broadcast for the area in which the ship is
navigating.
(c) Until February 1, 1999, every ship while at sea
must maintain, when practicable, a continuous listening
watch on VHF Channel 16. This watch must be kept at the
position from which the ship is normally navigated or at a
position which is continuously manned.
(d) Until February 1, 1999, every ship required to
carry a radiotelephone watch receiver must maintain, while
at sea, a continuous watch on the radiotelephone distress
frequency 2182 kHz. This watch must be kept at the position
from which the ship is normally navigated or at a position
which is continuously manned.
(e) On receipt of a distress alert transmitted by use
of digital selective calling techniques, ship stations must
set watch on the radiotelephone distress and safety traffic
frequency associated with the distress and safety calling
frequency on which the distress alert was received.
(f) Ship stations with narrow-band direct printing
equipment must set watch on the narrow-band direct-printing
frequency associated with the d tress alert signal If it
indicates the narrow-band direct-printing is to used for
subsequent distress communications. If practicable, they
should additionally set watch on the radio telephone
frequency associated with the distress alert frequency.
80-1125 Search and rescue coordinating communications.
(a) The distress signal consists of the word MAYDAY,
pronounced radiotelephony as the French expression "Madder".
For distress traffic radiotelephony, when establishing
communications, calls must prefixed by the distress signal
MA DAY.
(b) Error correction techniques, in accordance with
CCIR Recommendation 625 as specified in 80.1101, must used
for distress traffic by direct-printing telegraphy. All
messages must preceded by at least one carriage return, a
line feed signal, a letter shift signal and the distress
signal MAYDAY.
(c) Distress communications by direct-printing
telegraphy should be in the ARQ mode when ships are
communicating directly to the Coast Guard o other coast
stations on channels which they normally guard. Other
distress communications, including those of simplex channels
provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast
forward error correction mode. The ARQ mode may
subsequently be used when it is advantageous to do so.
(d) The Rescue Coordination Center responsible for
controlling a search an rescue operation will also
coordinate the distress traffic relating to the incident or
may appoint another station to do so.
(e) The Rescue Coordination Cents coordinating
distress traffic, the unit coordinating search and rescue
operations, or the coast station involve may impose silence
on stations which interfere with that traffic. This
instruction may be addressed to all stations or to one
station only, according to circumstances. In either case,
the following will be used:
(1) In radiotelephony, the signal SEELONCE MAYDAY,
pronounced as the French expression "silence, m'aider";
(2) In narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy normally
using forward-error correcting mode, the signal SILENCE MAYDAY.
However, the ARQ mode may be used when it is advantageous to do
so.
(f) Until they receive the message indicating that normal
working may be resumed (see paragraph (h) of this section), all
stations which are aware of the distress traffic, and which are
not taking part in it, and which are not in distress, are
forbidden to transmit on the frequencies in which the distress
traffic is taking place.
(g) Stations following distress traffic that are able to
continue normal service may do so when the distress traffic is
well established and on condition that it observes the provisions
of paragraph (f) of this section and that it does not interfere
with distress traffic.
(h) When distress traffic has ceased on frequencies which have
been used for distress traffic, the Rescue Coordination Center
controlling a search and rescue operation must initiate a message
for transmission on these frequencies indicating that distress
traffic has finished.
(i) In radiotelephony, the message referred to in paragraph (h)
of this section consists of,
(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;
(2) The call "Hello all stations" or
CQ (spoken as CHARLIE QUEBEC) spoken three times;
(3) The words THIS IS (or DE spoken as DELTA ECHO in the case of
language difficulties);
(4) The call sign or other identification of the station sending
the message;
(5) The time when the distress situation has ceased;
(6) The name and call sign of the mobile station which was in
distress; (7) The words SEELONCE FEENEE pronounced as the French
words "silence fini"
(j) In direct-printing telegraphy, the message referred to in
paragraph (h) of this section consists of-
(1) The distress signal MAYDAY;
(2) The call CQ;
(3) The word DE;
(4) The call sign or other identification of the station
sending the message;
(5) The time when distress situation has ceased;
(6) The name and call sign of the mobile station which was
in distress; and
(7) The words SILENCE FINI.
80.1127 On-scene communications.
(a) On-scene communications are those between mobile unit in
distress and assisting mobile units, and between the mobile units
and unit coordinating search and rescue operations.
(b) Control of on-scene communications is the responsibility of
the unit coordinating search and rescue operations. Simplex
communications must be used so that all on-scene mobile stations
may share relevant information concerning the distress incident.
If direct-printing telegraphy is used, it must be in the forward
error-correcting mode in accordance with CCIR Recommendation 625 as
specified in 80.1101.
(c) The preferred frequencies in radiotelephony for on-scene
communications are 156.8 MHZ and 2182 kHz. The frequency 2174.5
kHz may also be used for ship-to-ship on-scene communications using
narrow-band direct printing telegraphy in the forward error
correcting mode in accordance with CCIR Recommendation 625 as
specified in 80.1101.
(d) In addition to 156.8 MHZ and 2182 kHz, the frequencies 3023
kHz, 4125 kHz, 5680 kHz, 123.1 MHZ and 156.3 MHZ may be used for
ship-to-aircraft on-scene communications.
(e) The selection or designation of on-scene frequencies is the
responsibility of the unit coordinating search and rescue
operations. Normally, once an on-scene frequency is established,
a continuous aural or teleprinter watch is maintained by all
participating on scene mobile units on the selected frequency.
80.1129 Locating and homing signals
(a) Locating signals are radio transmissions intended to
facilitate the finding of a mobile unit in distress or the location
of survivors. These signals include those transmitted by searching
units and those transmitted by the mobile unit in distress, by
survival craft, by float-free EPIRBS, by satellite EPIRBs, and by
search and rescue radar transponders to assist the searching units.
(b) Homing signals are those locating signals which are
transmitted by mobile units in distress, or by survival craft, for
the purpose of providing searching units with a signal that can be
used to determine the bearing to the transmitting stations.
(c) Locating signals may be transmitted in the following frequency
bands: 117.975-136 MHZ, 121.5 MHZ, 156-174 MHZ, 406-406.1 MHZ, and
9200-9500 MHZ.
(d) The 9 GHz locating signals must be in accordance with CCIR
Recommendation 628 as specified in 80.1101.
80.1131 Transmissions of urgency communications.
(a) In a terrestrial system the announcement of the urgency
message must be made on one or more of the distress and safety
calling frequencies specified in 80.1077 using digital selective
calling and the urgency call format. A separate announcement need
not be made if the urgency message is to be transmitted through the
maritime mobile-satellite service.
(b) The urgency signal and message must be transmitted on one or
more of the distress and safety traffic frequencies specified in
80.1077, or via the maritime mobile-satellite service or on other
frequencies used for this purpose.
(c) The urgency signal consists of the words PAN PAN. In
radiotelephony each word of the group must be pronounced as the
French word "panne".
(d) The urgency call format and the urgency signal indicate that
the calling station has a very urgent message to transmit
concerning the safety of a mobile unit or a person.
(e) In radiotelephony, the urgency message must be preceded by the
urgency signal, repeated three times, and the identification of the
transmitting station.
(f) In narrow-band direct-printing, the urgency message must be
preceded by the urgency signal and the identification of the
transmitting station.
(g) The urgency call format or urgency signal must be sent only on
the authority of the master or the person responsible for the
mobile unit carrying the mobile station or mobile earth station.
(h) The urgency call format or the urgency signal may be
transmitted by a land station or a coast earth station with the
approval of the responsible authority.
(i) When an urgency message which calls for action by the stations
receiving the message has been transmitted, the station responsible
for its transmission must cancel it as soon as it knows that action
is no longer necessary.
(j) Error correction techniques, in accordance with CCIR
Recommendation 625 as specified in 80.1101, must be used for
urgency messages by direct printing telegraphy. All messages must
be preceded by at least one carriage return, a line feed signal, a
letter shift signal and the urgency signal PAN PAN.
(k) Urgency communications by direct-printing telegraphy should be
in the ARQ mode when communicating directly to the Coast Guard or
other coast stations on channels which they normally guard. Other
distress communications, including those on simple channels
provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast forward error
correction mode. The ARQ mod may subsequently be used when it is
advantageous to do so.
80.1133 Transmission of safety communications.
(a) In a terrestrial system the announcement of the safety
mess must be made on one or more of t distress and safety calling
frequencies specified in 80.1077 using digital selective calling
techniques. A separate announcement need not be made if the
message is to be transmitted through the maritime mobile-satellite service.
(b) The safety signal and message must normally be
transmitted on one or more of the distress and safety traffic
frequencies specified in 80.1077, or via the maritime mobile
satellite service or on other frequencies used for this purpose.
(e) The safety signal consists of the word SECURITE. In
radiotelephony, it is pronounced as in French.
(d) The safety call format or the safety signal indicates that the
calling station has an important navigational or meteorological
warning to transmit.
(e) In radiotelephony, the safety message must be preceded by the
safety signal, repeated three times, and the identification of the
transmitting station.
(f) In narrow-band direct-printing, the safety message must be
preceded by the safety signal and the identification of the
transmitting station.
(g) Error correction techniques, in accordance with CCIR
Recommendation 625 as specified in 80.1101, must be used for
safety messages by direct printing telegraphy. All messages must
be preceded by at least one carriage return, a line feed signal, a
letter shift signal and the safety signal SECURITE.
(h) Safety communications by direct printing telegraphy should be
in the ARQ mode when communicating directly to the Coast Guard or
other coast stations on channels which they normally guard. Other
distress communications, including those on simplex channels
provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast forward error
correction mode. The ARQ mode may subsequently be used when it is
advantageous to do so.
80.1135 Transmission of maritime safety information.
(a) The operational details of the stations transmitting maritime
safety information in accordance with this section axe indicated in
the ITU List of Radiodetermination and Special Service Stations and
the IMO Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities.
(b) The mode and format of the transmissions mentioned in this
section is in accordance with the CCIR Recommendation 540 as
specified in 80.1101.
(c) Maritime safety information is transmitted by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction using
the frequency 518 kHz in accordance with the international NAVTEX
system (see
80.1077).
(e) The safety signal consists of the word SECURITE. In
radiotelephony, it is pronounced as in French.
(d) The safety call format or the safety signal indicates that the
calling station has an important navigational or meteorological
warning to transmit.
(e) In radiotelephony, the safety message must be preceded by the
safety signal, repeated three times, and the identification of the
transmitting station.
(f) In narrow-band direct-printing, the safety message must be
preceded by the safety signal and the identification of the
transmitting station.
(g) Error correction techniques, in accordance with CCIR
Recommendation 625 as specified in 80.1101, must be used for
safety messages by direct printing telegraphy. All messages must
be preceded by at least one carriage return, a line feed signal, a
letter shift signal and the safety signal SECURITE.
(h) Safety communications by direct printing telegraphy should be
in the ARQ mode when communicating directly to the Coast Guard or
other coast stations on channels which they normally guard. Other
distress communications, including those on simplex channels
provided for that purpose, should be in the broadcast forward error
correction mode. The ARQ mode may subsequently be used when it is
advantageous to do so.
80.1135 Transmission of maritime safety information.
(a) The operational details of the stations transmitting maritime
safety information in accordance with this section are indicated in
the ITU List of Radiodetermination and Special Service Stations and
the IMO Master Plan of Shore-Based Facilities.
(b) The mode and format of the transmissions mentioned in this
section is in accordance with the CCIR Recommendation 540 as
specified in 80.1101.
(c) Maritime safety information is transmitted by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction using
the frequency 518 kHz in accordance with the international NAVTEX
system (see 80.1077).
(d) The frequency 490 kHz may be used, after full implementation
of the GMDSS, for the transmission of maritime safety information
by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward
error correction (see 80.1077).
(e) Internationally, the frequency 4209.5 kHz is used for NAVTEX-type transmissions by means of narrow-band direct-printing
telegraphy with forward error correction (see 80.1077).
(f) Maritime safety information is transmitted by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy with forward error correction using
the frequencies 4210 kHz, 6314 kHz, 8416.5 kHz, 12579 kHz, 16806.5
kHz, 19680.5, 22376 kHz, and 26100.5 kHz (see 80.1077).
(g) Maritime safety information is transmitted via satellite in
the maritime mobile-satellite service using the band 1530-1545 MHZ
(see 80.1077).